Football enthusiasts were treated to one of the most dramatic UEFA Champions League encounters in recent memory when Spanish giants Barcelona faced off against Italian side Inter Milan in the semi-finals. The electrifying match, which ended 4–3 in favor of Inter Milan, kept supporters on edge until the dying seconds.
But beyond the footballing spectacle, the contest became engulfed in controversy, with debates over refereeing decisions stealing the spotlight and leaving a lasting mark on Europe’s premier club competition.
According to a report from the Spanish media outlet El Nacional, the situation took an unexpected turn when FIFA President Gianni Infantino made a rare and candid admission.
In a move that sent shockwaves through the footballing world, Infantino publicly acknowledged serious refereeing mistakes that significantly influenced the outcome of the match. His statements ignited a fresh wave of outrage among fans and pundits, especially those in Barcelona.
During a press conference, Infantino addressed one of the night’s most talked-about incidents. He declared that Barcelona had been unfairly denied a clear penalty in the second half. The controversial moment came when Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan made a challenge on Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area.
Match officials, however, judged the foul to have taken place outside the box, a decision that sparked heated discussions across social media platforms. Infantino stressed that, upon review, the incident should have resulted in a spot-kick for Barcelona.
The controversy didn’t end there. Infantino went on to criticize another key decision from the first half, when Polish referee Szymon Marciniak awarded a penalty to Inter Milan.
Infantino revealed that Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí had cleanly won the ball without making any illegal contact with the Inter attacker, rendering the penalty call a significant error.
In response to these revelations, Barcelona president Joan Laporta reacted strongly. He expressed his anger over what he perceived as ongoing unfair treatment of his club by match officials. Laporta called for UEFA to permanently exclude referee Marciniak from officiating any future Barcelona matches in European competitions.
Furthermore, Laporta suggested that this latest incident was part of a broader pattern of biased decisions that have plagued the club in recent years. He also vowed to pursue formal legal avenues to demand greater refereeing integrity moving forward.
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